Capecitabine in gastric cancer

Chemotherapy is an important part of treatment for patients with gastric cancer. Although there is no single globally accepted standard of care for patients with advanced disease, regimens typically include a fluoropyrimidine and a platinum compound with or without a third drug (usually epirubicin or docetaxel). Oral fluoropyrimidines, such as capecitabine, offer clear advantages to patients in terms of convenience, but it is only recently that comprehensive data on their efficacy and safety in patients with gastric cancer have become available. The present article reviews capecitabine in the treatment of advanced and resectable gastric cancer. Ongoing Phase III trials involving capecitabine are also discussed. The data show that capecitabine is now established as an integral part of the multi-agent regimens used in the management of patients with gastric cancers.